What is a reasonable allowance for a student at a rural college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad paid for my college and spending money. I worked in the summer but not at school. Grad School I was on my own. Guess what, I have made a ton of money in business since graduating and never worked flipping burgers in college. I am not putting down working in college I am just not glamorizing it either. I think $400 a month seems reasonable for allowance for clothes, gas, food, beer etc.

My mom and dad did the same thing for me down to working in the summer but not during the school year (as a matter of fact working during the school year was forbidden) and then paying for my own grad school. The expectation was that I receive A's. I also never flipped burgers and have made a ton of money since graduation. Enough to semi-retire at a young age in fact. So now I volunteer and consult part-time. So for all of you who think you have the only formula for success...don't pass that attitude on to your children. They won't be very successful if they only see the world in black and white, know-it-all, judgmental terms.

[Anonymous]

That is so funny I also semi retired at a very young age! I now help run a good sized charity and "play" with a couple of businesses. Maybe you and I are the ones who are on to the formula after all!

[Anonymous]

1400 a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the person who keeps bragging about her kids being on full "academic" scholarships is bending the truth. I bet they are on F.A.

At my dd's college - ALL of the jobs on campus go to FA kids. That seems really unfair to me. We aren't rich at all...my dh and I have been working since age 12. Why are we penalized for living on the cheap.

Get real -- things are expensive out there.

Nope. Not a dime of FA. And I will brag on them because I am very proud of them. One is a National Merit Scholar. She is super smart and works really hard. She had colleges throwing money at her. The other two are just your typical bright kids who worked hard in high school. Both of them got partial scholarships their first years then were offered ROTC scholarships. All three get 100% of tuition, housing, books, fees, etc..... The ROTC kids get living expenses as well. Not one dime in Financial aid. Our Income is too high .

Not all the jobs go to FA kids. I know several of my daughter's friends work in the bookstore. My daughter applied as well and was told they might have something to offer her in the fall.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids in college and I don't give them any allowance money. I do, however, pay for all of their tuition, room and board. I also cover their car insurance.

They have small part-time jobs and are expected to work full-time in the summer. They are expected to pay for their own gas, cell phone, and extras (eating out, hanging with friends, etc.).

I did give them an allowance until they graduated high school, but then I stopped.

[Anonymous]

We give our son $100 a week.

[Anonymous]

Pp here with 3.3 GPa standard. My kids go to u Chicago and Princeton. Tough schools that are anti grade inflation. 3.3 is a good GPa. Now if they were at a state college majoring in bs like communications I would feel differently.

[Anonymous]

$100 dollars a week plus they have the meal plan.

[Anonymous]

Who gives their kid 1,400/month? Wow. Are they on a meal plan, or buying their own meals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want my kid to work on his grades not a minimum wage job. If you need a job for the money that is fine but I do not think its some kind of a huge character builder unless you are actually paying your way through college yourself. No one wants to eat every meal at the college dinning hall. You need beer money, gas money, money for clothing, take a girl out to a movie once in a while etc. I think $100 a week sounds reasonable.

Sorry but I am NOT giving my under-age child money to buy something illegal. So no, I am NOT giving them money for beer.

[Anonymous]

Do you write that on the money-- THIS IS NOT FOR BEER! Um, hello, college kids drink a little beer. Did you go to college? I do not think I ever met anyone who did not drink in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want my kid to work on his grades not a minimum wage job. If you need a job for the money that is fine but I do not think its some kind of a huge character builder unless you are actually paying your way through college yourself. No one wants to eat every meal at the college dinning hall. You need beer money, gas money, money for clothing, take a girl out to a movie once in a while etc. I think $100 a week sounds reasonable.

That is fine if you are affluent, no debt beyond mortgage.

[Anonymous]

I would never give a college aged kid an allowance. Get a job if you want money.

Do you really want your kid partying on your dime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never give a college aged kid an allowance. Get a job if you want money.

Do you really want your kid partying on your dime?

Good answer! No I don't want DC partying on my dime.

[Anonymous]

These are the people who are giving their 20-somethings 100k for a downpayment on a house (see other thread).

I worked full-time in the summer and was able to save a lot of money to use for the school year. And I waited tables one night a week during the school year to pad my savings.

Your kid WILL use the money to buy alcohol. I did. But it was my money anyway.